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Turquoise Lake is a recreation area in the San Isabel National Forest just outside of Leadville, Colorado. The lake offers 780 acres of surface area for boating, fishing and other recreation. Other recreational activities in the area include hiking and biking. The area is one of the more popular places for camping in San Isabel and offers eight individual campgrounds.

Campsites

The Turquoise Lake Recreation Area, a part of the Leadville Ranger District of San Isabel, has about 300 campsites spread across its eight individual campgrounds. Both tent camping and RV camping are possible in the area, though campsites such as Belle of Colorado are tent-only. The campgrounds are spread out across the shoreline of Turquoise Lake, with most located on the eastern shore. Campgrounds offer drinking water, toilets, fire rings and picnic tables. Other campgrounds include May Queen Campground, the sole campground on the far west of the lake, and Molly Brown and Tabor Campgrounds. Printerboy Campground is designed for large groups and includes amenities such as a cooking shelter, playground, volleyball and horseshoes.

Season

Turquoise Lake is located in the mountains at an elevation of close to 10,000 feet. As such, the campgrounds are only open during the summer season, typically between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Summer daytime temperatures are generally in the 60s and 70s Fahrenheit with nighttime lows dipping as low as 30 degrees. Although snow and ice limit access during the winter, Turquoise Lake is a popular destination for ice fishing.

Activities

Camping and fishing are the two primary activities at Turquoise Lake. Fish include rainbow trout, mackinaw trout and brook trout. Boat ramps are located near May Queen and Tabor campgrounds. Hiking is another activity, and the Turquoise Lake Nature Trail meanders 6.4 miles along the lake's shoreline, connecting May Queen Campground with other campgrounds and the lake's dam. Hikers can access the Holy Cross Wilderness via the Timberline Lake Trail near May Queen Campground.

Considerations

Turquoise Lake is a high-Alpine camping area, so if you're not accustomed to altitude, drink plenty of water, allow extra time for activities and don't overexert yourself. You might want to limit alcohol consumption as well. Turquoise Lake is a popular camping destination and can fill up fast. Make reservations in advance. Campsites such as May Queen, Father Dyer and Baby Doe require reservations four days in advance and two-night stays on weekends. Reservations can be made through recreation.gov. Some campgrounds such as Tabor and Belle of Colorado are first-come, first-served; get there early to ensure you have a site.

About the Author

Joe Fletcher has been a writer since 2002, starting his career in politics and legislation. He has written travel and outdoor recreation articles for a variety of print and online publications, including "Rocky Mountain Magazine" and "Bomb Snow." He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers College.